Guilford County representative Chris Sgro is one of the primary sponsors, along with three other lawmakers.

Sgro, who is also executive director of Equality North Carolina, has been an outspoken critic of House Bill 2, the hotly debated law passed by the General Assembly in a special one-day session March 23. That law was in response to a Charlotte city non-discrimination ordinance that the state said exceeded its authority.

"Passing the Equality for All Act, along with the repeal of HB2, is essential to ensure the protection of all North Carolinians and restore North Carolina's image," Democratic House leaders said in a release. "This necessary law will protect LGBT and other North Carolinians from discrimination in all walks of life."

The sponsors of the bill maintained the protections contained within will help repair the state's image and ensure a real state of equality.